"Spud," a 3-year-old male cat, endured 14 puncture wounds, the spray painting of his head and a lost tooth and other broken teeth in a case of severe animal cruelty Dec. 29, 2005, police said.
Spud's owners, Jeff and Dawn Thierbach and daughter Molly, 11, were disturbed by the torture endured by their pet when they found him on a front porch air conditioner about 4 a.m. When they first saw the cat, the family thought he had snow on his head but quickly discovered someone had used a white spray paint on the cat's head. Cuts and blood were also evident on the top of the animal's head as if someone tried to stab his skull. One of the punctures went through the cat's nose through its tongue and into the roof of his mouth, police said. Extensive work by a local veterinarian repaired most of the injuries, and antibiotics have stopped an infection that set in after someone repeatedly stabbed the pet, Dawn Thierbach said. Some time ago, the same cat was doused with gasoline, she said.
In his report, police Officer Matt Blair said the wounds were possibly made with a screwdriver. Spud travels the neighborhood and follows the family on walks, like a dog would, Thierbach said.
"If someone can do this to an animal, what's next?" she said. "(Molly's) kind of scared." The family, which has other pets, said Spud has a collar with his name on it and could not have been mistaken for a stray animal.
"It's really kind of ridiculous," Thierbach said.
Blair said there have been no similar animal cruelty acts in the village, but encouraged anyone with information on the assault to call police at (810) 796-2271. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Police
(810) 796-2271
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